District Police Dera Ismail Khan has finalized a comprehensive security plan to ensure peace and order during the holy month of Muharram-ul-Haram 2025.  According to the District Police Officer (DPO) Sajjad Ahmad Sahibzada, more than 9,000 police personnel will be deployed across the district, which has been divided into five zones and nine sectors for better coordination and effective security management. 

Speaking to APP, the DPO said that Dera Ismail Khan is categorized as one of the most sensitive districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hence requiring robust and well-coordinated security arrangements. A dedicated Command and Control Center has been established at Police Lines, where round-the-clock monitoring through CCTV cameras will be carried out.  Each zone will be supervised by an officer of SP rank, while each sector will be under the command of a DSP.

Around 63 security checkpoints have been set up at the district’s entry and exit points, with joint deployment of police and Pakistan Army personnel to ensure foolproof vigilance. The armed forces will remain on standby to respond promptly in case of any emergency.  He informed that around 25 police mobile units will conduct patrolling around Imambargahs, while Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) will carry out sweeping and clearance of procession routes and venues for Majalis. 

A dedicated team will be stationed at the Command Center to monitor Muharram activities in real-time via CCTV surveillance.  In addition, a specialized team has been constituted to monitor social media platforms and identify any provocative or unlawful content for timely action.  The DPO said the district police, in collaboration with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), had also carried out successful operations against elements involved in terrorism and kidnapping for ransom incidents along the D.I. Khan–Tank and Peshawar roads.

Police personnel remain on high alert, with strict checking underway at all key points.  He added that meetings with religious scholars, elders, and traders are being held to promote religious harmony and peaceful coexistence. The process for issuing special movement passes for Muharram has also been finalized.  “With the cooperation of the public and our respected religious leaders, we are determined to maintain peace during this sacred month,” DPO Sajjad Ahmad Sahibzada affirmed.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)